Yu Darvish

Many thought Darvish would be among the select few challenging Clayton Kershaw for the top spot on the pitcher rankings after a tremendous 2013 where it seemed like he was primed for a no-hitter every...

Signed a six-year deal with the Rangers in January of 2012. The base salaries are $5.5 million (2012), $9.5 million (2013), $10 million (2014), $10 million (2015), $10 million (2016), and $11 million (2017)

Darvish enjoyed a Cy Young-caliber season in just his second year in the majors, leading the AL in strikeouts with 277 in 209.2 innings pitched. He also cut back a tick on his walks allowed, but he had some truly terrible luck to only end up with 13 victories on the year. Darvish pushed his swinging-strike rate up to 12.6% (from 11.8% in his first big league season), as he continues to keep hitters off balance with an arsenal of nasty offerings. He also erased concerns about having to pitch half of his games in Arlington, posting a better ERA at home (2.69) than on the road (3.05) as well as a better home-run rate in his home starts (0.9 HR/9 vs. 1.3 HR/9). In most situations, Darvish will be one of the first five starting pitchers off the board in 2014.

2013

Darvish's much anticipated rookie season was largely a success, racking up 16 wins and 221 strikeouts. He struggled at times with his control, resulting in a poor stretch in July and August, but his September (36.2 innings, 20 hits, 39:7 K:BB) deserved more attention than it received thanks to Texas' collapse over the final few weeks. One explanation for the late-season improvement was increased reliance on his cutter. It's also possible that his arsenal became a bit easier for umpires to handle with respect to the strike zone. In any event, Darvish swing-and-miss stuff, and a slight reduction in his walk rate immediately vaults him among the ranks of the American League elite.

2012

Darvish is considered Japan's top pitcher and perhaps the best player to come over from Japan since Ichiro Suzuki. He's had an ERA below 2.00 for five consecutive seasons, but had his best season in 2011. Darvish set personal bests in wins (18), ERA (1.44), shutouts (6), innings pitched (232), strikeouts (276), and walks (36). While the new pitcher-friendly ball may have helped his stats, Darvish added about 20 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame. He was also more assertive with his fastball than in previous years, frequently working at the higher end of his 92-95 mph range. He may lose a pitch from his deep repertoire and he'll have to adjust physically toward pitching more frequently with more demanding travel. Plus, he'll have to adjust mentally to not always being the best player on the field. But overall, Darvish has the polished talent to be a frontline MLB starter, and appears to have the makeup to realize his potential. Texas won his rights by bidding a record $51.7 million in the posting system with NPB. While he'll be in a hitter's park, he may quickly become an elite fantasy option.

2011

Darvish is regarded as Japan's top pitcher and is perhaps the top player in the world not playing in the U.S. He was his usual dominant self in 2010, becoming the third NPB pitcher to post four consecutive sub-2.00 ERA seasons (and the other two played in the 1950's dead ball era). MLB transfer rumors were in overdrive until October, when he announced he would stay in Japan in 2011. Darvish has always been adamant about not wanting to move to MLB, but 2010 saw him soften his stance on the idea a bit. He still has four years of service time to go before qualifying for international free agency, and Nippon Ham will want keep him around for as long as possible. Still, he could be posted ahead of the 2012 season, but more likely he won't be in the U.S. for several more years if he decides to make the move.

2010

Darvish is regarded as Japan's top pitcher and is perhaps the top player in the world not playing in the U.S. Japan's heir-apparent to Daisuke Matsuzaka has lived up to his billing with three consecutive sub-2.00 ERA, sub-1.00 WHIP seasons. Matsuzaka, by comparison, put up one sub-1.00 WHIP season and never posted an ERA below 2.13. Darvish has repeatedly denied any interest in moving to MLB, but the competition and dollars could prove difficult to resist. Any decision to move to the U.S. is unlikely before 2014.